Different but Good

The schools don't celebrate Valentine's Day here, but we still celebrated it as a family and had fun sharing it with some friends and neighbors. A great friend stocked us up with the supplies for this cute and easy craft, a bouquet of hearts. Once we starting sharing them, the girls didn't want to stop. Myles made us heart crepes for breakfast and surprised the girls with heart-shaped sandwiches for school.

Our Creative Carly went all out this year with a homemade surprise for each of us. A Learn to Write in English book for Macy, including brushstroke orders/directions.

"hi! hi Macy! here is a Book for you! you! you! to Practice.  P.S. I love you!  Love, your, sister, Carly, P.P.S. have! fun! Macy"

A stylin' barrette for Robyn Girl.

A sucker flower for me.

And, a marble run for Myles. She found herself a how-to video on the Internet, watched it, and made it.

This is who I found when I picked up Macy from kindergarten! Apparantly, when I signed a permission slip for the "Make-up Corner," I was giving other kids (not parents or teachers) permission to do as they pleased. As you can tell, she was well pleased. Just not so much during the scrubbing time. This is the beginning of Fasching (Carnival). More to come!

This is the Life!

This is the most snow we've gotten so far.  The girls were SO excited!

They tried scraping it together to make a snowman, but it just wouldn't pack. They did have fun trying. They also had fun taking out a piece of black construction paper so they could catch flakes and see their shapes.

A Cold Day at the Park

Of course, Carly is never as cold as the rest of us.  Or is at least too cool to bundle up so much.

Everyone wears scarves here, including boys.  This type is a popular style which actually goes on over your head and stays on well.  Robyn likes wearing it when she rides her bike to school.

After a few weeks of freezing cold, it's finally warming up again.  So nice!  Although, a bit dreary/rainy now instead of sunny.  Choose your poison, I guess.

We've Been Busy Building...

The Empire State Building in our very own apartment!  This was our first 3D puzzle-a fun family activity.

Little Miss Sunshine

Meet Macy's favorite Buddy, Bob.

A fun face she made as a surprise for Carly when she got home from school.

Super duper excited to FINALLY get her first loose tooth out.  When she woke up bright and early to find no money under her pillow, she said, "Oh, maybe she had a lot of paperwork to do."  Myles said, "Maybe you woke up before your scheduled delivery time."  She hopped into our bed and found one Euro under her pillow in both beds!  Way to come through little fairy :)

Bob and babies.  Christmas present still a daily big hit.

Fun with Dad.

Quotable Quotes

When I was transferring info. from my old calendar to my new one, I realized I hadn't posted the nice/funny things the girls have said for a year now!

So, from  Feb. 2011-today:

Macy:  Mom, how old is Dora the Explor-ah?
Me:  I don't know.  I don't think it ever says.  I would guess about your age.
Macy:  Then, what is she doing out exploring by herself?!

Macy:  Someday, I'm gonna be The Mom.  And, I'm gonna be The Boss.  I'm not gonna work, so I can stay home with my children, but my husband will want to stay home with them, too, so we'll have to work it out.

Me:  Jesus Christ was perfect.
Carly (after thinking intently):  Does that mean he never spilled his milk?

Macy:  Melissa Baxter knows how to have fun.

Macy (while it's snowing at the end of March):  I'd like some variety.

Macy:  I think it's a good idea to know the person your gonna marry's family.  That way, you can make sure they're really not a smoker, you know?

Macy:  We took a family picture at preschool.  I gotta get my teachers' phone numbers.

Macy:  Mom, how do you burp in Spanish?

Carly (while I'm trying to take a picture):  Come on, Macy, do a real smile.
Macy:  I can't or it looks like I'm in pain.

Macy (the night before Mother's Day):  Dad, you need to keep Mom up real late so she'll sleep in, and we can bring her breakfast in bed.

Me:  What's a beacon?
Robyn:  I know.  It's something you drink out of.
Me:  No, that's a beaker.
Carly:  Beacon would be more than one beaker in German.

Macy:  Mom, can you do a cartwheel in German?

Macy (to me while I'm yawning):  I can see your lungs!

Carly (looking at the picture of a model on a package of make-up remover wipes):  She looks like she's having the time of her life with it.

Carly's phrase of the month:  I have a little question for you.

Macy to Myles in the hot tub:  Your eyelashes make your whole body look like a girl, but your swimming suit looks like a boy.  Relax like you're taking your tooth out with your mouth open.

Macy (talking in her sleep):  the sugar was so good, but the table was so sour!

Robyn: My head itches.  I think I have cats in the cradle.

Me:  What state do we live in now?
the girls:  silence
Me:  Baden-Wuerttenberg
Carly:  I think Utah's easier to say.

Carly:  I don't think I've ever walked so much before.  You know, after DC with Mike, then New York, and now here without a car.

Macy (pointing to a new post for the blog):  I'd like to make a compost.

Me (reading a question from an English/German trivia card):  Who can help you if you get lost?  A policeman.
Carly:  Yeah, or Heavenly Father.

Macy (after Myles prayed in German):  It's OK, Dad.  He understands you.

Macy (after waking up early):  I dreamt a poem.  Write it down!  Look at you go, go, go!  In the snow, snow, snow!  Look at you play, play, play!  On the sleigh, sleigh, sleigh!

We were watching the movie "Rio" dubbed in German.  The girl in the movie moves from The States to Brazil. 
Myles:  It's surprising for her to open a bookstore.  She doesn't even speak Portuguese.
Carly:  Well, yeah, Dad, she's German!

Macy:  I wish if Wolfgang Amadeus  Mozart were still living.
Me:  Really?  Why?
Macy:  Because then he could come to my kindergarten and play us a song and we could give him a card and lots of presents, you know with a violin on it.

Timing

When I sat down to write about our first 6 months here, I found this post that I'd written about a year ago and never got around to publishing:

I wasn't surprised when I found this pic. on our camera. Lately, the most exciting thing in the world for the girls is when the hands align on the clock. They yell for everyone to look, and then jump up and down. Kids are good examples of noticing things we don't, of appreciating things that happen day in and day out, and of enjoying the present.

We usually think of kids as being impatient, but as an adult, I don't know if I'm much better. I want to know what's going to happen, and how, and where. I like to plan, prepare, know what to expect. It's hard not to be in control.

Sometimes, I wish I had a crystal ball, so I could just see and know and relax. But, then, other times I'm glad I didn't know what was going to happen, or I'd think, "I don't want that to happen!" or, "I could never do that!" Surprises of all the wonderful things to come would also be spoiled before they happened.

For years, we prayed for Myles to finish his project. It seemed like a good thing to pray for. But, then I started thinking that wasn't what we should be focusing on, it wasn't the whole point. There were other things to do and other people to help. We were still here for a reason. I couldn't see where we were going, but felt like we were being guided on the right path. I felt peace.

Just after Myles interviewed for jobs out of state, I was asked to be the leader over the teachers and children (ages 18 months-12 years) at church. I told our bishop, "That's fine, but we're moving soon." He said he prayed about it and felt like I was supposed to be the one to do that at that time. I got the same answer.

The companies told Myles they really liked him, but didn't have a specific place for him yet. That was over 3 years ago. Since then, the housing market has crashed (we're so glad we didn't buy in CA then), and I've been leading the teachers and children.

This past fall, when most people thought we were crazy for not looking for a job (including ourselves, at times), Myles felt like he should keep working on his project, and so he did. Because of this, he connected with a professor in Germany who does work in his area. A whirlwind of events literally blew open one door after the next for us, and we felt like that was where we're supposed to be.

I never felt the sorrow or devastation that I thought would surely overcome me for having to leave here without a PhD. This is just the next step. So, where I thought we'd have an ending, a new beginning awaits.

As the song goes, "the rest is still unwritten."

Now, today, one year later:

In some ways the past 6 months since we've landed have flown by.  In other ways, our "other life" feels like a world away.  Maybe because it is!

Although some days have been long, especially in the beginning, overall we've had a much easier time adjusting than I thought we might.  The girls haven't complained much, Myles' work is going well, and we've been blessed over and over again with friendly, helpful people.

We always said we could go anywhere as long as we had each other.  We just weren't expecting that "anywhere" to be so soon.

The other day, I was remembering that when we thought we might be moving to CA, the girls said things like, "No, way!  That's too far!  Can't we just stay here and you can work at K-mart, Dad?"  So, when we knew we were supposed to move to Germany, we were a little worried about their reaction.  But, they said things like, "Sure.  Isn't that over the ocean?  OK.  Can we start reading the Book of Mormon in German every day?"

With 6 month's worth of experiences behind us, we're able to laugh about some of our first few weeks of blunders that were anything but funny at the time.  Like when we were invited by some friends for lunch, only to walk a really long way to get there and realize we couldn't remember their last name, which you need to get "buzzed" into the building complex...to appearing homeless when we showed up with all of our stuff after 2 straight days of traveling in planes, trains and automobiles, only to discover that the lady with the keys to our apartment was sick that day...to snatching a man's keys out of his hands thinking he'd stolen ours...I'm noticing a pattern with keys here. 

Just yesterday, I caught myself walking the girls to school without noticing my surroundings.  I guess this is a sign of feeling settled in.

As for New Year's resolutions, we don't have to worry about getting more exercise, as long as we keep having trains to catch.  Myles said it would be pretty funny to have a video of us running to the train, watching it pull away, coming home, getting all our gear off, only to do it again!

A few days ago, Macy played at her friend's house from Poland while the mom and I talked with only German in common.  This morning, I found myself speaking Spanish to another friend, and tonight, we made Pita Pockets on bread from Italy.  This has been fun, meeting people and tasting food from all over the world.  And, yet, my moment of "the clock aligning" for me today was finding a post-it-note from Carly to Robyn on the bathroom mirror.

R-I love you.  You can use the little toothpaste.

Carly's Baptism

Carly turned 8 in December and chose to be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Since Myles holds the Priesthood, he was able to baptize her.

Carly planned the program herself (some in English and some in German) and asked everyone she wanted to come and participate.  Robyn played the piano for a couple of the songs.

People started referring to her as "The Princess."

The scripture on her program said,  "...as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they might be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those in the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life--

Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed:  This is the desire of our hearts" (Mosiah 18:8-10).

A little Daddy daughter dance at the post-baptism party.

Our beautiful child of God.

Who would've thought?

we'd be ringing in the New Year in Germany with "Country Roads Take Me Home"?! We did have fun trying out Wii-Sing for the first time.

The girls stayed up to ring in the New Year with us for the first time, and did a great job staying happy!

For their anniversary present a few years ago, our friends took an ice-cream making class together, and now we get to reap the benefits. For this celebration, they served everything from rosewater to mango. Delicious!

We only made the streetcar stop for us once during our fireworks show. People were still blowing off fireworks at 8 AM the next day!

These friends helped us break in our new Raclette set, a tasty French tradition.

When you come to visit, we'll share it with you, too. :)

Everyone gets to put what they want into their little skillet, top it with cheese, and then put it under the broiler to melt. Very nice to get to stay at the table and talk.

Our girls were excited to find these noisemakers at the beginning of the party, but forgot about them at midnight.

And, as they say here, "Have a good slide!" meaning into the New Year.

Some German Christmas Traditions

The biggest difference we've noticed and have enjoyed is the emphasis on Advents.  Here, we are making Advents wreaths with friends.  Every Sunday for the four weeks leading up to Christmas, you light a new candle.  Some people have a special dinner, sing songs, recite poems, or play games, etc.

The girls had candles at school as well (even in kindergarten) and learned how to light their own.  They also had advents calendars where a different child got a surprise every day.  At home, most children have advents calendars, as well, with everything from chocolate to Playmobil People.

We even went to a few live advents nights at people's houses where they unveil the number on their window, which is all decorated, have music, hot drinks, treats, etc.  One time, they had a shadow nativity play in a garage when it was raining.

When we went Christmas caroling to neighbors and friends as a family, we were surprised to have people trying to give us money.  We were also surprised they were so reluctant to accept our gift of a little cardboard house filled with cookies.  It turns out that Stern (Star) Singers come from the Catholic Church and expect donations, sometimes even in a little cardboard house!

Everyone kept asking us if we were going to celebrate Christmas like the Germans and have presents on Christmas Eve or like Americans and open them on Christmas morning.  Our girls decided both would be best!

On Christmas Eve, we went to a children's Nativity service.  It was fun to join in singing the German Christmas songs.

One of my favorite parts of the season was not having a separation of Church and State.  It was fun celebrating in the church with the kids' schoolmates and as a community.

This Friday, we get another holiday to celebrate when the Three Kings came to visit the Savior.  We've heard something about hiding a toy in a cake...

Some Christmas Highlights

Santa sure knew what these girls wanted.  They love to play school any chance they get.

Macy in Seventh Heaven with her new German "Puppenwagon." 

And, we're jammin' again!

The Sweet Shop is open (at 6 AM).

Merry Christmas  from the Watson 5.

Our wonderful, talented friend.

Our German Oma.

Christmas cookies and holiday hearts!

Merry Christmas!

love, Myles, Christie, Robyn, Carly, and Macy :)

Fröhliche Weihnachten!

 My mom's favorite Christmas song is Silent Night because it was her mom's favorite Christmas song.  We always sang it every Christmas Eve, sometimes accompanied by a music box.  Her grandpa who was from Germany might've been smiling down on his great-grandkids when he heard this one:



Merry Christmas!

May you have a wonderful Christmas weekend and enjoy the peace of our Savior.

The Gift of Glitter

When I took Carly shopping for arts and crafts supplies for her B-day, even she would not allow me to buy the glitter she wanted.  It came in a little container and cost about $11!

She wanted it to make some of her Christmas presents.  Myles looked at some stores, but couldn't find any.  He asked about it at work, and they didn't even know the name for it, so it seemed like a specialty item.

I had just about given up (and run out of time) when I went into our little local store that sells newspapers and school supplies.  I couldn't find any glitter, but spotted a card decorated with some, so I took it up to the cashier and asked if they had any for my daughter who wanted to make some Christmas crafts.

No, None.

But, then, she disappeared into the back room and came back with a tub full of what appeared to be her own personal supplies--glue, scissors, and one jar of red glitter.  This quantity was much greater than the amount we'd seen at the other store, so I was worried about how much she'd want to charge me.

To my amazement, she placed it on the counter and said, "For you, a Christmas gift."

even the garbage cans are cute in Germany...

at least at the Christmas Markets!
Here, they have outside Christmas markets with food, rides and crafts that run for the whole month before Christmas.  It's not as cold as what we're used to, which is nice, but it has been rainy.